DEFENDING THE DEFENDERS HOW HUMAN RIGHTS AND SEA … · Ley de Biodiversidad, 7788 (1998) ......
Transcript of DEFENDING THE DEFENDERS HOW HUMAN RIGHTS AND SEA … · Ley de Biodiversidad, 7788 (1998) ......
DEFENDING THE DEFENDERS: HOW HUMAN RIGHTS AND SEA TURTLE CONSERVATION JUSTIFY A NEW NATIONAL PARK ON COSTA RICA’S CARIBBEAN COAST
Thomas T. Ankersen, Profesor y Director del programa Jaclyn Lopez, Attorney with Center for Biological Diversity and LL.M Cand., University of Florida Levin College of Law Aileen Orozco, Cand. Lic., Facultad de Derecho, Universidad de Costa Rica Elizabeth Turner, J.D. Cand., University of Florida Levin College of Law
NATIONAL AUTHORITY FOR THE PROTECTION OF SEA TURTLE NESTING BEACHES
Ley de Parques Nacionales, 6084 (1977) Ley de Biodiversidad, 7788 (1998) Ley Organica del Ambiente, 7554 (1995) Reglamentos que Establecen Criterios de Creacion de
Areas Protegidas por el Poder Ejecutivo, Decreto 334433 – MINAE
Ley de Conservacion de la Vida Silvestre, 7317 (1992/2012)
Ley de Proteccion, Conservacion y Recuperacion de Tortugas Marina, 8325 (2002)
NATIONAL AUTHORITY FOR THE PROTECTION OF SEA TURTLE NESTING BEACHES
a) study of the area; b) defined objectives; c) feasibility study; d) minimum financing; e) creation of plans; and f) issuance of the law or
decree
Photo credit: Scott R. Benson, NMFS Southwest Fisheries Science Center
INTERNATIONAL AND COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS Costa Rica’s International Obligations for Sea Turtle Protection Comparative Analysis – US Approach to National Parks
LEGAL HIERARCHY
Constitucion
Tratados o Convenios
Internacionales
Ley o Actos con Valor de Ley
Decretos
Reglamentos del Poder Ejecutivo y Estatutos Institucionales
Normas Sujetas a los anteriores Reglamentos
INTER-AMERICAN CONVENTION FOR THE PROTECTION AND CONSERVATION OF SEA TURTLES (IAC) Article IV: “appropriate and necessary
measures…for the protection, conservation and recovery of sea turtle populations and their habitats” Specific mention of creation of protected areas
Article IX: monitoring requirement Article X: compliance requirement Article XI: annual report
CONVENTION OF THE CONSERVATION OF MIGRATORY SPECIES OF WILD ANIMALS (CMS)
Range State Conserve and restore habitat Prevent and remove obstacles Prevent or reduce factors that further endanger
species 2011 CMS Report – decreased poaching? CMS Funding
CONVENTION ON INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN ENDANGERED SPECIES OF WILD FLORA AND FAUNA (CITES)
Concerned with trade of listed endangered species
Article VIII: requires Parties to “take appropriate measures to enforce the provisions of the Convention and to prohibit trade in specimens in violation thereof”
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CONVENTION ON WETLANDS OF INTERNATIONAL IMPORTANCE ESPECIALLY AS WATERFOWL HABITAT (RAMSAR)
Article 2: select wetlands of “international significance” to include on “the List”
Article 4: Parties “shall promote the conservation of wetlands…by establishing nature preserves on wetlands, whether they are included in the List or not, and provide adequately for their wardening”
CENTRAL AMERICAN CONVENTION ON BIODIVERSITY (CCBD) Article 17: “identify, select, create, manage and
strengthen…through responsible institutions, national parks, natural and cultural monuments, wildlife refuges, or other protected areas as tools to ensure the conservation” of representative habitats of Central America
Article 25: incorporates other treaties
RIO DECLARATION ON ENVIRONMENT AND DEVELOPMENT (RIO DECLARATION) Principle 7: “states shall cooperate in a spirit of
global partnership to conserve, protect, and restore the health and integrity of the Earth’s ecosystem”
U.S. NPS Yellowstone NP – world’s 1st park (1 March 1872) Manages over 84 million acres on 401 sites
(including 59 national parks) Process
DOI Rec Study Congress Law
CONCEPT OF HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS AS APPLIED TO ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENDERS
1998 UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders
A characterization of human rights defenders Environmental defenders: progressive
interpretations and protection
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STATUS OF ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENDERS WORLDWIDE Increase in threats and extractive activities Forms of violations to human rights Situation in the Americas
AVAILABLE INTERNATIONAL MECHANISMS Communications with Special Rapporteur for the
Situation of Human Rights Defenders: Urgent Appeals
Inter-American Commission of Human Rights: Official Requests of Information Press Releases urging to action Open Audiences Precautionary Measurements
STATUS OF HUMAN DEFENDERS IN COSTA RICA: PATTERN OF HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS AND OFFICIAL RESPONSE (LACK OF IT)
THREATS AND CLIMATE OF FEAR Threats and violations “are an increasing
phenomenon and might be part of a non-articulated nor explicit strategy” Declarations from Mauricio Álvarez, Alianza Redes Ambientalistas, to Semanario UCR, 2013. AECO Case Kimberlly Blackwell Menéndez Bermúdez Corcovado Park Rangers
IMPUNITY AND AGGRAVATING ACTIONS Gaps in the law and poor enforcement Public Statement by authorities discrediting
environmental work
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RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH SEA TURTLE NESTING PROTECTION AND HUMAN RIGHTS BASIS FOR ENHANCED PROTECTION OF SEA TURTLE NESTING BEACHES
INCREASE IN ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES IN NESTING BEACHES Geographical shifts in the area of Cahuita, at the
Caribbean Region of Costa Rica, which used to be an important nesting beach, made the turtles move further north to Moín, in order to lay their eggs.
In association with that phenomenon, police from Moín have stated that a new form of trade of turtle eggs for drugs has increased the presence of poachers and drug dealers at the beach in the last years.
POOR ENFORCEMENT OF INTERNATIONAL AND NATIONAL LAWS REGARDING SEA TURTLES
Even though the Law of Protection, Preservation and Recovery of Marine Turtle Populations establishes prison and other measures to stop turtle poaching
The lack of human and economic resources at police stations in nesting beaches is a major obstacle to provide an efficient response to denounces and leading to criminal prosecution
THE HUMAN RIGHTS BENEFITS OF PROTECTED BEACHES
Ley Orgánica del Ambiente: “to promote scientific research, the study of ecosystems and their balance”
Ley del Servicio de Parques Nacionales, Art. 9: enables its staff to perform immediate actions within the park as regular police officers
SUMMARY & RECOMMENDATIONS Designate a new national park or wildlife refuge through
executive decree or legislation. Extend Tortuguero National Park from its current southern
terminus at Jalova, to the limits of the Area de Conservacion de Tortuguero at Parismina.
Establish a new protected area from the Northern boundary of the Area de Conservation Amistad y Caribe (ACLAC) to a point north of the community of Moín.
Extend Barro del Colorado and Archie Carr national wildlife refuge limits to the 12 mile maritime boundary to protect inter-nesting and migratory habitat.
Elevate Cariari National Wetlands to Ramsar status. Establish a coordinated protocol with the Ministry of Security,
Coastguards and Incopesca to increase security in nesting beaches and enforce sea turtle conservation laws
File a petition to the Ombudsman on behalf of affected environmental defenders, through the legal representatives of interested NGO’s.